UPDATE: Richmond County man released from prison; deemed high risk to reoffend

SYDNEY — The father one of the young people killed in an impaired driving crash a decade ago is pleased police have warned the public that the man whose actions killed his daughter is a high risk to reoffend.

Michael Cooper, 55, a native of Cleveland, Richmond County, is shown in a police handout photo. Halifax police are warning all Nova Scotia residents about Cooper, a man who is deemed a high risk to re-offend after serving a seven-year sentence for impaired driving causing death.

Halifax Regional Police issued a public warning Tuesday about the release of Michael Gerard Cooper, 55, from a federal penitentiary after he served his full seven-year sentence for two convictions of impaired driving causing death. Cooper has indicated that he will reside in Halifax Regional Municipality upon being released.

In May 2004, 19-year-old Angela Smits of Sydney, and her boyfriend, Michael MacLean, 20, of Albert Bridge, were pronounced dead at the scene on Highway 104 near River Bourgeois, following a head-on crash.

In 2011, Cooper admitted to the National Parole Board he would likely continue to consume alcohol whether or not his release conditions included abstaining, and he would drive a motor vehicle if given the opportunity, despite having a lifetime driving prohibition. He said he would continue to drink and drive.

The Cape Breton Post first reported last week that Gerry and Patricia Smits, the parents of Angela Smits, have asked the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. and licensing bodies the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board and the Alcohol and Gaming Division of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations to take precautions to prevent Cooper from being able to purchase alcohol at retail or licensed establishments in Nova Scotia. At minimum, they have called for the distribution of Cooper's name and photo to each retail outlet and licensee in the province.

Gerry Smits said Tuesday he was pleased that the public has been advised of Cooper’s release and that his photo has been released.

“The whole thing is about awareness, it’s a way of protecting people,” Smits said. “It’s an obligation that we have to the public to notify them that this person is planning on doing what he’s doing.

“If he sticks to his word and comes out and does what he says he’s going to do, by all means, this person is a high-risk offender. It’s a high risk to the community.”

Smits said he has concerns about Cooper living in the Halifax Regional Municipality, noting it has a higher population density and more liquor retail outlets and licensed establishments than rural areas of the province.

“There’s a higher chance that this person could obtain alcohol or obtain a vehicle from that area,” Smits said.

As part of his release, Cooper is under numerous conditions including that he abstain from the consumption, purchase and possession of alcohol and abstain from entering any place where alcohol is sold or consumed. He is also subject to a daily curfew of 9 p.m.-6 a.m.

Police have indicated there is a concern that Cooper may reoffend. Prior to his incarceration, Cooper was living in Cleveland, Richmond Co.

Cooper was released from prison after serving his full sentence. It's a relatively rare incident, where the National Parole Board denied him statutory release after he served two-thirds of his time.

According to New Brunswick provincial court documents, because it is feared Cooper will commit a serious personal injury offence, for two years after his release he is subject to a strict 22-condition recognizance that prohibits him from consuming alcohol.

Cooper's criminal record dates back to 1975 and includes convictions for theft, possession of stolen property, drug possession and driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit, and previous liquor and Motor Vehicle Act infractions. He is described as a white man, 6’3”, 250 lbs., with grey hair, brown eyes, a full beard and he wears glasses.

Police warn that any form of vigilante activity or other unreasonable conduct will not be tolerated.

Michael Cooper, 55, a native of Cleveland, Richmond County, is shown in a police handout photo. Halifax police are warning all Nova Scotia residents about Cooper, a man who is deemed a high risk to re-offend after serving a seven-year sentence for impaired driving causing death.

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Ang

January 24, 2014 - 11:21

This situation sickens me. It also sickens me to know he OPENLY admits he will likely re offend and our system has nothing to prevent this. Sickening. The families of those children suffer EVERY day and if he has his way there will be other families walking the same path of grief as the Smits and Macleans. It's too late for their loved ones and yet they still try to do the right thing for their loved ones and protect the rest of us from his lack of judgement and some clown out there has the nerve to say give the man a break, shake your head and look up the TRUE meaning of 'accident'. Those children did not die 'accidentally', they died because someone used POOR judgement and continues to use poor judgment, someone JUST LIKE you with no capacity to THINK before ACTING. Those children were murdered. Heartbreaking.

To have liquor stores be on the alert should not be their job.
Everyone should watch for him at a safe distance, but to place policing on clerks seems to be a lot of pressure.
What if he gets refused and gets violent before a police unit gets there?
If he moves to a larger place like Halifax he may get lost in the shuffle of a heavy workload of probation officers.
Its terrible he has such a cold attitude and appears to have any empathy for his mistakes.
I have lost someone very close due to the same thing.
It haunts me to this day.
It sounds like a matter of time before he severely messes up again..............

The repeat fellon that murdered my son also spent seven years in prison with no chance of parol. That in itself is an indication of the individual the system is dealing with. Ryan died instantly from the truck's impact. I suffered with these families as I do now. It's very sad to watch over your shoulder or wait for news that this fellon or another has struck again. The next child that dies will start the grieving over again.

First of all lets tighten up the Drinking and Driving Laws, that where all this anger should be directed. There are many more so called Mr.. Copper's out their and they are still driving. Prayers to all the families because the action of this one person, hurt many

Tighten up the Drinking and Driving Laws ?
It's the Justice System that need to be tightened up.
We have more criminals walking our streets than we have behind bars where they belong.
We have criminals and repeated offenders on house arrest and serving time in our communities due to sentencing by our Judges and Court system.
We are terrorized by the very System that is suppose to protect the public .
Mr. Cooper stated he would likely repeat himself by drinking and driving again when released .
This should have set an action in place to have him listed as a dangerous person and automatically incarcerated .
By his statement he has warned the Public of his likely hood of repeating what he has done already.
He is clearly a threat to society and is capable of public harm.
The Justice System is not working for the people but seems to favor those who commit crime and injustices to the public.

MADD too

January 22, 2014 - 09:56

Agree, where are advocates, the Smits should not have to go at this alone. Yes, there are more Michael Coopers out there and we only know about them went tragedy strikes and families are torn apart. Sad.

So Sad

January 21, 2014 - 21:54

Hard to believe that Michael is admitting that he would drink and drive if given the opportunity, I would like the echo what his brother Thomas has posted. Having known most of the Coopers for many years, they are one of the most respected families in the area. My heart goes out the families that lost their loved ones in this most tragic accident, and I also feel for the Cooper family, they are hard working and highly respected, sorry that Michael has not benefited from being locked up for 7 years, perhaps he should have stayed where he was, as he would no longer be a danger to the public or himself. I agree that he should have stayed behind bars until the authories saw changes.

This is one of Michael's brother; I just wanted to say first & foremost, we as a family carry very heavy in our hearts the accidental killing of Angela Smit & Michael MacLean and the most horrific heart break their families endure. That may not mean much to some people, but it has to be said repeatedly as it is true for us.
It's understandable the families would work tirelessly to safeguard this from happening again and honoring their love ones. Their lose is immeasurable, we can't pretent to understand.
Unfortunately, we too feel extremely baffled by our brother's behavior and are at a complete lose as to how to support his 'rehab' - assuming that's possible.
Our mother wants nothing more than for the victim's families to know she & my dad didn't raise a monster and that she has the deepest sorrow for their lose.

Thomas,
throughout this whole mess I have thought of your family....Your Mom, the patience of a saint, I can still remember walking past her classroom thinking I so would like to be like her.
Your parents could never raise a monster, there was to much love and acceptance in your household.
Yes there are 2 lives lost, they can never be replaced. My heart goes out to those families, but to your as well, as each one of you has to live with what happened as a result of your brothers actions.

Concerned citizen

January 21, 2014 - 21:42

In the report it says he will continue to dink alcohol and will drive if he pleases. 7 years has clearly taught him nothing. If he was still locked up it would be one less careless person we would have to worry about. I can't imagine what Angela's family has to go through. And the law allows people like this I be released putting so many others life's that we value in jeopardy. What if this happens again ? And what about the next people will it be a young family and children. This man has no remorse or he would be extending the apology himself and not be going on about still consuming alcohol and driving. This is a disgrace. What a shame that we have little control and such a poor justice system

a

January 22, 2014 - 12:01

Yes Thomas, we are acutely aware that your Mother did not raise a monster. Your brother is not a monster, those type of people do evil because they want to and seek to do evil. Your brother is lost, lost to the rules of society and behaviour, lost to the rules of caring for himself and as such, loss of caring for those around him. He does not need anymore jail because this is what society has charged him and he has paid that debt. He needs help and lots of it. If he does not get the help he needs he will go back to jail. If he goes back to jail he my not survive. I'm just hoping that he can get the help and support he needs. People must leave him alone and at least let the man try to recover some part of his life.

Scared

January 21, 2014 - 19:36

I'm also a Christian, but that doesn't mean I want to get to Heaven and meet God faster because this man was released and decides to make the same dangerous decisions that killed two people. It could be me, my children or you and yours next time he decides to do what he says he will do. Forgiveness is when someone is genuinely sorry for their actions and this man is sadly not. I remember this accident. Too well actually, because that same highway I have driven a million times to visit my family in Isle Madam. I also met both victims in schools I attended and feel horrible for their families who now have to watch helplessly as the man who took their children away from them enters society with the promise to do it to others. How can you heal when you know through this tragedy no lessons were learned and two people died in vain. Many of us have got behind a wheel at some point when we should not have after we have been drinking. It was not right, and we all probably felt like an idiot afterwards, but we never killed two people, went to jail and showed zero remorse for the actions. This man needs to be stopped... I agree that our definition of justice needs to be reexamined. This man is not reformed, and after everything that he went through for him not to show any remorse scares me, and it should scare you.

I always thought that being sent to jail was for rehabilitation. So if he served his sentence and is still high risk to offend than to me that means that the system does not work and the government should consider changes so that it does work

I really feel for the families of these two victims and for the family of the loser who carelessly took their lives. He should NEVER see freedom again and the fact that he has zero remorse and admits to ignore his conditions upon release only proves he should be in a cell forever. If this he gets out and repeats his actions as he said he would do the justice system should be held 100% accountable and a be made pay millions in damages. Everyone knows he will its just a matter of when. Hopefully the police will catch him the next time , just pray he kills no one else.

soberdriver

January 21, 2014 - 18:37

Well unfortunately the idea sounds good in theory and I might agree somewhat, other than the simple fact that it is almost entirely illegal. To have this idea bear fruit you will first need to set aside most of the privacy laws in existence now. We all know that blacklists (the aforementioned name and photo listing idea) are and have been illegal for many years. The government will not break their own legislated law. But they could change it. The basic problem is that when a person finishes a criminal sentence, it's finished and they are only required to abide by those conditions of their release. The public can watch this person and if the person breaks the requirements of the release they could be arrested and charged but until then the person is a free citizen and cannot be subjected to harassment or prejudice. Again unfortunately, it is the police authority's decision to intervene in any case. They may take the unusual step of warning the public officially upon the persons release but if they have not done so as of yet it is highly unlikely they will at all. The public needs to be vigilant and hopefully someone will find him drunk in a ditch. But lets try and stay away from vigilante ideas that will only improve Mr. Coopers standing. That said, I'm thinking he won't be living close by any time soon, we can only hope. But that's just my opinion. Uh huh!

The day will come I assure you all .
If the so called Justice System continues to fail the people there will be a higher rate of crime when the people start protecting themselves and using vigilante response.
Will you blame them for doing what the Justice System won't do?

Do we live in a Christian Society? He acidently killed two people but we will all die some day. You people all go to church Where is your forgiveness? Give the man a break. Shame on you! You Are NOT christians.

I am a Christian he did not accidentally kill anyone he went out with the intention of getting drunk and he intentionally drove his car you obviously have never had anyone killed by a drunk driver...I have maybe when this man gets out he will kill one of your loved ones and then we will see how you feel then

concerned

January 21, 2014 - 18:33

Just wondering if it was your daughter or son that he killed would you say the same thing....Don't think so ...he should be left in jail

jeanalexis

January 21, 2014 - 18:34

Christian, what does religion have to do with the fact that this man took the lives of two wonderful people because HE CHOOSE to get behind the wheel of a car intoxicated. He admits that he will drink and drive again if given the chance.
He KILLED two people.
I believe one of the 10 commandments quotes are: thou shall not kill.
I have no remorse for him. I thought what he did in the eyes of God was WRONG.
An accident is something that you could not prevent from happening, calling a cab or calling a friend would have prevented this terrible situation.
Spending 7 years in prison would have given him enough time to process the fact that he should NEVER get behind the wheel of a car drinking again, and he admits he would again, how dare he.
Rehabilitated I think NOT.
Defending him or forgiving him, SHAME ON YOU.

Jason

January 21, 2014 - 19:50

Forgiveness??? Are you kidding??? If he did it and was sorry, then maybe some sort of forforgiveness could be achieved. But he says he will do it again. Should we just forgive him again next time he kills?? Get you're head checked please.

Stella

January 27, 2014 - 10:36

Even God doesn't forgive unless a person is truly remorseful. That is not the situation in this case so why would you expect anyone to forgive this man?

newsflash

January 21, 2014 - 15:39

Lets get one thing out of the way, I think he's scum. Just wanted to make that clear to save all the emotional commenters time. So you wanna hold the justice system responsible eh? Prison times eh? For what? The guy served his time for the the sentence handed down... little late to be crying about it now. They have absolutely no way to hold him if his sentence is completed. The fact that y'all don't understand this is the joke.

"He's being deemed a high risk to reoffend "
Then why is he not being treated like a high risk offender and by doing so he can be kept in prison indefinitely. This man has killed two beautiful, innocent people, while driving drunk. And now he is telling the parole board that he is going to drink & drive again, not maybe, that he is going to. So how can he not be treated as a high risk offender?? He wasn't caught stealing under wear at Walmart, he killed two people. It's not bad enough that he only served 7 years for the killings but now he is going to rub it in the faces of the families who lost their loved ones. This man hasn't showed an ounce of remorse.

So he admitted he will likely consume alcohol and would drive is given the chance. Why is he been let out? If a murderer said he was going to kill someone when he gets out would he be set free. If he kills someone again, our justice system should be held libel and our justice system personnel should face prison times.

Does Canada have a 3 strike rule? If he is 'well known to police; and admits he is likely to re-offend, then why release him even if he has served his jail term? To protect the public, there should be facilities - even minor incarceration facilities - where people who are likely to re-offend can be sent. This way they would live in "monitored facilities/prisons' where they would be less likely to re-offend.